Review Papers Kōdōkan Jūdō’s Elusive Tenth Kata: The Gō-no-kata – ”Forms of Proper Use of Force” – Part 1 Authors’ Contribution: Carl De CréeABCDE, Llyr C. JonesABCD A Study Design B Data Collection International Association of Judo Researchers, United Kingdom C Statistical Analysis D Manuscript Preparation E Funds Collection Source of support: Self financing Received: 21 January 2009; Accepted: 13 February 2009; Published online: 7 August 2009 Abstract Background Kōdōkan Jūdō is a Japanese form of pedagogy created by Jigorō Kanō, based inter alia on neoconfucianist values, and Study Aim: traditional Japanese martial arts, and modern Western principles developed by John Dewey, John Stuart Mill, and Herbert Spencer. It was Kanō’s intention to educate both the mind and body. The practical study of jūdō includes randori (free exercise), nine different kata (predetermined and choreographed physical exercises), and kōgi (lectures). In recent years, Gō-no-kata (“Prearranged forms of correct use of force”), a generally considered obsolete and re- clusive ‘tenth’ kata of Kōdokan jūdō, has become the subject of some renewed interest. The purpose of the present paper is to provide a comprehensive study of this kata which once formed a part of the standard jūdō curriculum. We also aim to remove the confusion and mystery which surrounds the gō-no-kata. Material/Methods: To achieve this, we offer a careful critical analysis of the available literature and rare source material on this kata. Results: The name gō-no-kata sporadically appeared in some of early Western jūdō books. Flawed research methods, as well as the appearance of a true hoax presumably created with commercial intent, have led to widespread confusion and misinformation in the West about the contents of the elusive gō-no-kata. Conclusions: The origin of the misinformation on gō-no-kata can be traced back to modern jūdō authors failing to recognize both important mistakes contained in early Western jūdō books and the fabrication in recent years of a bogus gō- no-kata. Key words: Gō-no-kata • Jigorō Kanō • jūdō • kata • Kōdōkan Author’s address: Professor Carl De Crée, P.O. Box 125, B-2800 Malines, Belgium, e-mail: [email protected] Background a valuable training drill in most Japanese gendai budō1 and koryū2 arts. Kata represent the grammar of jūdō, According to the founder of jūdō’s own words, the prop- and without properly mastering them, jūdō is often re- Jūdō: Jūdō is a Japanese form of pedagogy, created by er study of jūdō essentially has to involve both randori duced to a crude conglomerate of isolated throws merely Jigorō Kanō, based inter alia and kata [1–5] This important cohesion between these based on power, endurance, and athletic achievement. on neoconfucianist values, traditional Japanese martial two building stones of jūdō virtually has been lost in Finn [6] provides a particularly insightful definition arts, and modern Western modern times, partly because of the International Judo of the subject: principles developed by John Dewey, John Stuart Mill, and Federation’s (IJF) and national governing bodies’ em- Herbert Spencer. phasis on the sports-competitive aspects of jūdō and “Kata: Prearranged forms in Japanese martial arts that Kata are like a living text book. They contain all the fundamental Kata: Predetermined and winning medals. are intended and recognized as choreographed physical exercises, which together 1 Gendai budō 現代武道 are modern Japanese martial arts which were established after the Meiji Restoration (1866–1869). In that way they with free exercises (randori) distinguish themselves from classical or traditional or old martial arts (koryū). Gendai budō often are rooted in koryū. and lectures (kōgi) form 2 Koryū 古流 is a Japanese term that is used in association with the ancient Japanese martial arts. The word literally translates as old school the three critical pillars of or old tradition. Koryū is a general term for Japanese schools of martial arts of which the creation predates the Meiji Restoration (1866– Kōdōkan jūdō education. 1869) which sparked major socio-political changes and led to the modernisation of Japan. © ARCHIVES OF BUDO VOLUME 5 | 2009 | 55 - - - - - Original Article information in animate form, with which to perfect technique part of the sei-ryoku-zen’yō kokumin-taiiku. Thus, unlike and understanding of the particular skill.” (…) in the pre-1930 period, kime-shiki and jū-shiki usually are no longer considered separate kata, and for this reason, Kōdōkan: The specific There are nine kata in Kōdōkan jūdō today, as accept- generally no longer appear under their separate names name of the school and 4 style of budō as given by the ed by the time-honored headquarters of the jūdō world, in Kōdōkan kata lists [15]. founder of jūdō Jigorō Kanō the Kōdōkan Jūdō Institute in Tōkyō, Japan [7–9]. These (1860–1938). nine kata are named as follows [7–10]: To provide context for some of the material that follows, it is useful to explain how the aforementioned nine kata Nage-no-kata (Forms of Throwing); are categorized according to purpose5. See Kotani, et al. Katame-no-kata (Forms of Grappling or Holding); [17] and Otaki and Draeger [18] for further details. Kime-no-kata (Forms of Decisiveness); Kōdōkan goshinjutsu (Kōdōkan Forms of Self-Defense); Together, the nage-no-kata and the katame-no-kata are Jū-no-kata (Forms of Gentleness & Flexibility); known as Randori-no-kata (Forms of Free Exercise). The Itsutsu-no-kata (The Five Forms); main purpose of these two kata is to facilitate the de- Koshiki-no-kata (The Antique Forms); velopment of randori (“free practice”) skills. The kime- Sei-ryoku-zen’yō Kokumin-Taiiku (National Physical no-kata and the Kōdōkan goshinjutsu, but also the joshi Education according to [the principle of] best use of goshinhō, are classified as Shōbu-no-kata (Forms of self- energy); defense) – within these kata the central objective is to de- Joshi goshinhō (Methods of Self-Defense for Women). feat an adversary and survive. The jū-no-kata and the sei- ryoku-zen’yō kokumin-taiiku are grouped as Rentai-no-kata Of those nine kata only seven are most commonly per- (Forms of physical education), where the foremost ob- formed. Because of this reason one will often find more jective is to educate the body to remain healthy. Finally, popular literature incorrectly claiming that there would the itsutsu-no-kata and the koshiki-no-kata are grouped to- be only seven or eight Kōdōkan jūdō kata [11,12]. With gether as Ri-no-kata (Forms of theory) – their core pur- the exception of the Kōdōkan goshinjutsu and Joshi pose is to develop a higher understanding of the funda- goshinhō, all the above kata are commonly attributed mental and deeper goku’i ( 極意 ‘essence’), perhaps even Jigorō Kanō: The founder of to the founder of jūdō, Dr. Jigorō Kanō (1860–1938) ‘esoteric’ principles (okuden 奥伝 or shinō 深奥) of jūdō. Kōdōkan jūdō, born in 1860, died in 1938. [12]. The Kōdōkan goshinjutsu was created by a panel of experts in 1956 (see the text Kōdōkan Judo3 [13, pag- Despite this well-structured and generally considered es 145–251] for full details about the first eight of the ‘complete’ curriculum, one must acknowledge that in ad- above kata). Joshi goshinhō, the ninth kata, though offi- dition to the aforementioned nine kata, other – Kōdōkan cially recognized by the Kōdōkan, has never gained great and non-Kōdōkan – kata exist in jūdō. Most of these kata Gō-no-kata: “Prearranged popularity, not in Japan and even less so abroad, and it are not well known outside Japan and are rarely taught forms of correct use of force”, a physical exercise is usually omitted from lists of kata or from jūdō text- or practiced [15,18,19]. created by Jigorō Kanō and books. Goshinhō can be considered as the equivalent of presumably the oldest jūdō kata, which until recently was Kōdōkan goshinjutsu, designed specifically for the female The purpose of the present paper is to provide a com- often considered defunct. and taking into account the types of attacks of which prehensive study of a kata that once formed part of the females usually are the victim; the creation of this kata Kōdōkan curriculum, but no longer features, namely the was ordered by Jirō Nangō, the second President of the Gō-no-kata 剛の形 (“Prearranged forms of correct use Kōdōkan in the 1940’s, and completed by a technical of force”). In recent years, this generally considered ob- team of experts within the Kōdōkan. The Itsutsu-no-kata, solete ‘tenth’ kata has become the subject of some re- though also officially attributed to Jigorō Kanō [13,14], newed interest within jūdō circles. However, much of the according to recent research dealt with elsewhere, was information in circulation on gō-no-kata, is contradicto- not created by Kanō-shihan either [15,16], and neither ry, ambiguous, and even blatantly erroneous; at best, its was Koshiki-no-kata [7,9,15], the latter which consists of contents and even its existence has been the subject of two series of forms directly taken from Kitō-ryū jūjutsu, considerable speculation. We aim to remove this con- more particularly, from its Takenakaha-style [15]. fusion and mystery which surrounds the gō-no-kata. Two other Kōdōkan kata which are omitted from the above Our research questions are as follows: list, namely, kime-shiki and jū-shiki, today are considered 3 Although Kanō is presented as author of this book, it is in fact a compilation by the Kōdōkan Institute that dates from long after Kanō had already passed away, in this way honoring Jūdō kyōhon, the only book on jūdō which Kanō ever wrote, and of which he was able to complete only the first part (1931) [4] before he passed away in 1938.